The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1887-11-24
A FAMOUS SPEECH.
How Patrick Henry Delivered Those
=. Thrilling Words -

In his most interesting Life Of
Patrick Henry" published In the s
"American Statesman" series, Pro-
fessor Moses Colt Tyler has brought
to light an important and most in-
.seresting description of Henrys
manner of of,:delivering his most cele
brated speech. HSi is contained IN
the manuscript of Edward Fontaine,
which is now in the GhEarYcg Cor:
nell university and IS as follows s.;
"When he said is life so dear or
peace SO sweet as to be purchased at
the price of chains and slavery 2" he
stood in the attitude of a condemned
galley slave loaded with fettess
awaiting his doom. His form was
bowed, his wrists were crossed, his
nsnaeles were almost visible as he
ssoed like an embodiment OF help
lessness and agony. After q solemn
pause he raised his eyes and chained
bands towards heaven and prayed ins
words and tones which thrilled every
heart: Forbid it, Almighty Ged r
He then turned towards the timid
ioyalists of the house, who were
quaking with terror at the idea Of the
consequences of participating in pro-,
ceediugs which would be visited With
the penalties of treason by the Brit
ish crown, and be slowly bent his
form yet nearer to the earth and
said, I know not what course others
may take and he accompanied the
words with his hands still crossed,
while he seemed to be weighed down
with additional chains. The man
appeared transformed into an op.
pressed heart. broken AID hopeless
feloa. .sis555
"After remaining in this posture
of humiliation long enough to im-
press the imagination with the con-;
dition Of the colony under the iron
heel of military despotism, he arose
proudly and exclaimed: But as for
me'-snd the words Kissed through
his clinched teeth, while his body
was thrown back, and every muscle
and tendor was strained against the
fetters which bound him, and with
his countenance distorted by agony
and rage, he looked for q moment
like LAGOON in his death struggle
with coi.ing serpents; then the loud. I.
clear; triumphant notes, Give mo
liberty electrified the assembly. 1t
was not a prayer, but sterI demand, e
which would submit to no refusal or
delay. The sound Of his voice as he
spoke these memorable words was
like that of Spartan peaa on the
field of Plate; and as each syllable of
the word liberty echoed through the
building his fetters were shivered;
his arms were hurled apart. and the.
links Of his chains were scattered to-,
the winds. When he spoke the word
liberty with an emphasis never
given it before his hands were open
and his arms elevated and extended;
his countenance was radiant; he
stood erect and defiant, while the
sound of his voice and the subnmity
of his attitude made him appear
magnificent incarnation of freedom,
and expressed all that can be ac-
quired or enjoyed by nations and in.
dividuals .invincible and free.
"After a momentary pause only
long enough to permit the echo of
the word liberty to cease, he let his
left hand fall powerless to his side
and clinched his right hand firmly, as
if holding dagger with the point
aimed at his breast. He stood Ike
a Roman senator defying Cesar.
while the unconquerable spirit OF
Cato of Utica flashed from every
feature, and he closed the grand ap
peal with the solemn words, or give
me DEATH which sounded with the
awful cadence of hero's dirge, fear.
less of death and victorious in death;
and he suited the action to the word
by a blow upon the left breast with
the right hand which seemed 10 drive
the dagger to the patriots heart,